Priorities of Successful Christians
Christian growth is a priority for growing in our relationship with Christ. We should make growing a priority until it becomes a habit. Either we grow daily, or we will die gradually. A habit is something we don’t even think about. There is a big difference between “discipline” and “habit.” Think about this in terms of getting up in the morning. Most of us have a habit of brushing our teeth. We don’t get up and talk ourselves into this. It is just something we do. We don’t think about it. Brushing our teeth has just become our habit. The goal is not to have a disciplined prayer life but a habitual prayer life. We pray without even thinking about it. The goal is not to have a disciplined Bible reading life. The goal is to have a habitual Bible reading and prayer life.
We tend to look at the concept of having a habit in a negative way.
But the truth is that we are made up of the habits that we develop from priorities we have set and kept doing faithfully.
Acts 2:42 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
42 And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.
Acts 2:42 Expanded Bible (EXB)
42 They ·spent [devoted] their time learning the apostles’ teaching, ·sharing [fellowship], breaking bread [ this may refer to a meal or to the Lord’s Supper; Luke 22:14–20], and praying together.
In other words they had a habit of prayer, hearing the word, and developing relationships with other believers.
In this lesson we will discuss some “priorities/habits” every believer must develop in his or her life. These habits will make you a highly effective/fruitful Christian.
Priority number one: Spend daily time with God.
Spend time with God every day.
We will never be very effective as Christians if we don’t spend time with God in prayer and Bible study/meditating on the Word. Some have called this their devotions.
Here are some ways to begin to develop this priority/habit in our lives.
Steps to begin a devotional life:
Develop a Bible reading plan.
- Don’t just open up the Bible and read without a solid plan of action.
- Acts 17:11 BRG Bible (BRG)
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Develop a prayer list.
- A prayer list is a great habit for every believer to develop.
- Ephesians 6:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Take notes as you spend time with God.
- Habakkuk 2:2 New Living Translation (NLT)
2 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets,
so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.
- When God speaks to you through the Word, record it.
- When God answers your prayers, record it.
- This is a great way to build our faith and relationship with God as well as encourage others.
Find a person to keep you accountable.
- We need to develop Godly peer pressure in our lives.
- Matthew 28:19 New Living Translation (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Schedule a Bible reading plan.
Develop an effective prayer list and record answered prayers.
A place to pray and read your Bible.
A place to record notes as you read the Bible.
A place to record your personal thoughts and journal them.
Check out the video on Youtube! https://youtu.be/OY5as-FVtAE
